What role does a Certificate Authority (CA) fulfill in network communication?

The role of a Certificate Authority (CA) in network communication is to issue digital certificates, which are essential for establishing secure connections over the internet. Digital certificates serve as a form of identification that helps verify the authenticity of entities involved in communication, such as websites, organizations, or individuals.

When a CA issues a digital certificate, it guarantees that the public key contained in the certificate belongs to the entity it identifies. This is crucial for protocols like SSL/TLS, which are used to secure communications between web browsers and servers. The presence of a valid certificate ensures that data transmitted over the network is encrypted and that the parties involved are who they claim to be, reducing the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks and other security threats.

The other options, while important in their respective areas, do not align with the main function of a CA. For instance, network infrastructure maintenance, device configuration, and traffic monitoring do not directly relate to the CA’s role in providing trust and security through digital certificates.